Scientists of NTU «KhPI» met with representatives of the YEP accelerator, an ecosystem that helps Ukrainian youth realize themselves through entrepreneurship. The event discussed the opening of the YEP office in Kharkiv Polytechnic. The participants agreed to prepare a powerful joint program called «Leaders of Innovation» for students, which will include the creation of a telegram chat for communication, development and holding of events in the field of innovation. The planned formats also include an ideaathon based on design thinking, a hackathon, and other events aimed at developing creativity and entrepreneurial culture.
A meeting with Margarita Chernysheva, a representative of the community accelerator and head of the Communications Center, was held at the National Technical University «KhPI». The event was attended by Vice rector for Scientific and Research Work Andriy Marchenko, Head of the Research Department Ruslan Kryvobok, representatives of the sustainable innovation ecosystem of NTU «KhPI» and the team of the Kharkiv Polytechnic startup center «SPARK». The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the opening of the YEP office in Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, which should be an important step towards strengthening innovation development at the university and forming leaders in the student environment. In particular, Margarita Chernysheva shared her experience of implementing such offices at universities in Kyiv and Lviv. She spoke about the key formats of work: a startup studio as a supportive community and a startup course that is implemented as non-formal education during the semester. Such approaches are aimed at creating a favorable environment for the development of innovative ideas and entrepreneurial thinking among students.
For his part, Professor Andriy Marchenko, Vice rector of NTU «KhPI», gave examples of successful projects that were implemented through the active interaction of students and startup experts. He emphasized the importance of creating a platform at the university that would bring together innovative leaders and provide opportunities for the realization of their ideas.
Nataliia Shmatko, director of the startup center «SPARK» of Kharkiv Polytechnic, spoke at the event and emphasized the importance of opening the YEP office in NTU «KhPI» as a step towards strengthening the university’s sustainable innovation ecosystem. The presentation from the winners of the NTU «KhPI» Startup School for schoolchildren attracted special attention at the meeting. They demonstrated their startup as an example of successful pitching, showing a high level of training and a creative approach to solving current problems. This was a clear indication that the innovative ecosystem of Kharkiv Polytechnic effectively develops entrepreneurial skills and supports young talents from the school bench.
Note:
YEP is an ecosystem of innovative entrepreneurship, which consists of an incubation and acceleration program, mentoring, and grants for early-stage startups. Since 2016, YEP has «pumped» 500+ startups. The YEP team also develops entrepreneurial education in 95 universities across the country, teaching 3000+ students each semester. YEP’s mission is to help Ukrainian youth realize themselves through entrepreneurship.
Ideaton is a short, intensive format with elements of brainstorming, sketching, prototyping, and other cool things that will inspire new solutions.
Hackathon is an organized event where specialists, mostly of the same profile (but not necessarily), form teams and solve a specific problem or develop an effective solution in a limited time (usually 24 hours). Depending on the complexity of the task, it may be announced directly at the beginning of the hackathon or the directions in which the solution will need to be prepared may be communicated in advance. Experienced mentors help teams by answering questions and giving advice. All teams present their ideas to the jury during a pitching session
The meeting of scientists of the National Technical University «KhPI» with the representative of the YEP accelerator Margarita Chernysheva took place on 14 February, 2025.